The Sabbath is one of the most controversial theological issues in Christianity, especially in the Reformed world. Some Christians believe that the Sabbath, being typical of the person and work of Jesus Christ, has passed. Others believe that the person and work of Christ altered/enlarged the meaning of the Sabbath and the details of its observance, but that the Sabbath command itself is a Creation Ordinance, and, therefore, is binding until we enter into the eternal Sabbath. A third group believes that the Lord's Day has replaced the Sabbath, and amongst that group there are many views as to what the implications are for the New Covenant Christian. A fourth faction, a relative minority, believes that the Jewish Sabbath remains intact and should be celebrated on the seventh day as was done in the Old Covenant.
The Sabbath is a subject on which I have experienced considerable growth over the past few years. I have documented the reasons for my newfound convictions previously, so I will not rehash that here (although my views have been considerably refined since I wrote that). I would like to discuss the issue from a more spiritual viewpoint. The Sabbath is not merely a theological topic to be debated by theologians, but an issue that truly reflects and affects our spiritual experience as Christians. This reality has been impressed on my mind much more of late as I observe some of my Christian brethren. I have recently come across a few posts from my Sabbatarian friends that illustrate my point. They expressed that they were finding rest in such things as preaching and Christian fellowship on the Sabbath. These things are admirable, of course, but are they really our source of rest? They are blessings given to us from God, but my rest is, at least it should be, found in Jesus Christ alone. It is exactly this that separates my understanding of the Sabbath from theirs. I wholeheartedly agree that God has granted His people, even in the New Covenant, a Sabbath rest (Hebrews 4:9), but what is the nature of that rest? Does God merely grant us physical rest from our toil? Is that what the Sabbath is all about? To be fair, Sabbatarians would certainly insist that the Sabbath is both physical and spiritual. Our rest on Sunday points to our rest in eternity, they would say. They will quite often even admit that we begin to realize that eternal Sabbath in this life to some degree. Is that enough? Is that fully realizing the Sabbath that God grants to His people in the New Covenant? I don't think it is. I think there is much more to the Sabbath.
To me, Sabbatarians are a little bit like Dispensationalists (that should offend both groups). Allow me to explain. Dispensationalists just can't get past the physical element of the promises made to the Jews, insisting that these promises must receive literal fulfillment to the race to which they were given. In my opinion, they fail to appreciate the radically transcendent fulfillment that those promises have received. After all, why would Jesus care about a physical throne in Jerusalem when He has been given all authority in Heaven and on Earth? I view Sabbatarians in much the same way. They get stuck on the physical commandment/promise of the Old Testament Sabbath and fail to realize the full glory of the New Covenant Sabbath. The New Covenant Sabbath transcends the Old Testament Sabbath in the same way, and to the same degree, that Christ's sacrifice transcends the Old Testament ceremonial system. The Old Testament Sabbath was a day. The New Covenant Sabbath is a lifestyle. The Sabbath is about so much more than a day. The rest that the New Covenant believer has in the finished work of Christ is the fulfillment of not only the Sabbath, but of all the holy days of the Old Covenant. If you only celebrate one day, or even a group of days, you're robbing yourself.
To my Sabbatarian friends, know that I respect your resolve to serve God and I can appreciate your conviction, but ask yourself this question. Is your Sabbath any different than the one the Jews observed in the Old Covenant? In what way/ways is it different? It's on a different day of the week? You celebrate a fuller revelation on that day? Is that it? You may think that you are fully realizing the spiritual nature of the Sabbath by observing Sunday in the name of Christ as opposed to observing the seventh day because of Creation, but you are missing out. There is much more to it. Resting one day a week tragically fails to enter fully into the rest that Christ has won for His people. That rest is found in our daily walk with and reliance upon Christ.
Now, don't misunderstand me. Some Sabbatarians do both observe the day and yet appreciate the daily implications of it (like some emphasize the tithe but also appreciate the full implications of what the tithe pictures). These two things are not mutually exclusive. However, while observance of the carnal Sabbath doesn't necessarily lead to neglect of the spiritual Sabbath, it can and often does. I have known many Sabbatarians who, satisfied with a one-day-a-week Sabbath rest, fail to pursue that rest that Christ provides His people even in this life. My hope is that all Christians would experience this deeper, more genuine rest, regardless of what view of the Sabbath they hold. Paul encouraged liberty and understanding when it comes to holy days (Romans 14) because he knew that some people would want/need that physical sign, even in the New Covenant. This was especially true for those in the transitional period, but it remains true today. Physical rest is still important for these weak bodies of ours, and God certainly cares for our bodies, but we must never let that physical rest obscure the spiritual rest to which we have been called. Observe a Sabbath day if you please, or don't, but, whatever you do, never be satisfied with a physical day of rest. Never replace that transcendent New Covenant rest with a modified version of the Old Covenant rest. Enter into the rest that Christ provides His people (Hebrews 4:11). You don't even have to wait until Sunday for that rest! You can enter into it today and every day!
The Sabbath is a subject on which I have experienced considerable growth over the past few years. I have documented the reasons for my newfound convictions previously, so I will not rehash that here (although my views have been considerably refined since I wrote that). I would like to discuss the issue from a more spiritual viewpoint. The Sabbath is not merely a theological topic to be debated by theologians, but an issue that truly reflects and affects our spiritual experience as Christians. This reality has been impressed on my mind much more of late as I observe some of my Christian brethren. I have recently come across a few posts from my Sabbatarian friends that illustrate my point. They expressed that they were finding rest in such things as preaching and Christian fellowship on the Sabbath. These things are admirable, of course, but are they really our source of rest? They are blessings given to us from God, but my rest is, at least it should be, found in Jesus Christ alone. It is exactly this that separates my understanding of the Sabbath from theirs. I wholeheartedly agree that God has granted His people, even in the New Covenant, a Sabbath rest (Hebrews 4:9), but what is the nature of that rest? Does God merely grant us physical rest from our toil? Is that what the Sabbath is all about? To be fair, Sabbatarians would certainly insist that the Sabbath is both physical and spiritual. Our rest on Sunday points to our rest in eternity, they would say. They will quite often even admit that we begin to realize that eternal Sabbath in this life to some degree. Is that enough? Is that fully realizing the Sabbath that God grants to His people in the New Covenant? I don't think it is. I think there is much more to the Sabbath.
To me, Sabbatarians are a little bit like Dispensationalists (that should offend both groups). Allow me to explain. Dispensationalists just can't get past the physical element of the promises made to the Jews, insisting that these promises must receive literal fulfillment to the race to which they were given. In my opinion, they fail to appreciate the radically transcendent fulfillment that those promises have received. After all, why would Jesus care about a physical throne in Jerusalem when He has been given all authority in Heaven and on Earth? I view Sabbatarians in much the same way. They get stuck on the physical commandment/promise of the Old Testament Sabbath and fail to realize the full glory of the New Covenant Sabbath. The New Covenant Sabbath transcends the Old Testament Sabbath in the same way, and to the same degree, that Christ's sacrifice transcends the Old Testament ceremonial system. The Old Testament Sabbath was a day. The New Covenant Sabbath is a lifestyle. The Sabbath is about so much more than a day. The rest that the New Covenant believer has in the finished work of Christ is the fulfillment of not only the Sabbath, but of all the holy days of the Old Covenant. If you only celebrate one day, or even a group of days, you're robbing yourself.
To my Sabbatarian friends, know that I respect your resolve to serve God and I can appreciate your conviction, but ask yourself this question. Is your Sabbath any different than the one the Jews observed in the Old Covenant? In what way/ways is it different? It's on a different day of the week? You celebrate a fuller revelation on that day? Is that it? You may think that you are fully realizing the spiritual nature of the Sabbath by observing Sunday in the name of Christ as opposed to observing the seventh day because of Creation, but you are missing out. There is much more to it. Resting one day a week tragically fails to enter fully into the rest that Christ has won for His people. That rest is found in our daily walk with and reliance upon Christ.
Now, don't misunderstand me. Some Sabbatarians do both observe the day and yet appreciate the daily implications of it (like some emphasize the tithe but also appreciate the full implications of what the tithe pictures). These two things are not mutually exclusive. However, while observance of the carnal Sabbath doesn't necessarily lead to neglect of the spiritual Sabbath, it can and often does. I have known many Sabbatarians who, satisfied with a one-day-a-week Sabbath rest, fail to pursue that rest that Christ provides His people even in this life. My hope is that all Christians would experience this deeper, more genuine rest, regardless of what view of the Sabbath they hold. Paul encouraged liberty and understanding when it comes to holy days (Romans 14) because he knew that some people would want/need that physical sign, even in the New Covenant. This was especially true for those in the transitional period, but it remains true today. Physical rest is still important for these weak bodies of ours, and God certainly cares for our bodies, but we must never let that physical rest obscure the spiritual rest to which we have been called. Observe a Sabbath day if you please, or don't, but, whatever you do, never be satisfied with a physical day of rest. Never replace that transcendent New Covenant rest with a modified version of the Old Covenant rest. Enter into the rest that Christ provides His people (Hebrews 4:11). You don't even have to wait until Sunday for that rest! You can enter into it today and every day!
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